need more room to sit

[SeaBee]

is there any way to make more room so i can sit and steer? I am 6'4'' and 295. i am big but i know someone else has done it. I do want to keep it looking as original as possible.

[Bob N]

Go to the restoratio site and then find the vendors. You are looking for DL Bensinger. I think that is the way you spell it. He has a big boy modificaton. It involves cutting your rear fender wells and putting in a different front seat but it adds several available inches for the beltline or the height enhanced.

[Guest]

You can try to bend the back of the seat back alittle, it will help. Think of Clint Eastwood sitting in that jeep in the opening of Kelly's Heros.....

[downhill75]

My jeep has been cut right in the middle. (In front of the Rear fenders) About 12" has been added the the total length for more leg room. The drive line had to be lengthened and new side panels will need to be made to make it look decent. The frame was also lengthened and reinforced the same amount.

It can be done with some work.

[jeepscott3]

I have a '44 MB body that was modified by notching the fender wells in, so that seats could be moved back. This is NOT show quality work, and I didn't do it. It is just for function. It isn't what I would call an original body, but it has been repaired, and smoothed out to look good on the outside, and seems to be sound. I plan on selling it along with the rolling frame as a project (was going to be my project, but realy need to concentrate on my '42GPW), but could sell it sepperately if anyone is interested. I will E-mail pictures, even if you just want to see one way of doing it and don't want to buy it.

[MPMB45]

DO NOT CUT THE FENDER WELL!!!!!!!!!!!

This can be done and has been done many times here in Sonoma County, CA.

1. Take out your driver's seat and REMOVE the tube behind the seat that hits the rear fender wall.
2. Weld in a piece of 1/8" or 1/4" Flat Bar to take up the support.
3. Then you have to either heat up the tubes that support the upper seat to accomodate the position you desire.
4. bolt it back in and start driving........about a hour or so to start to finish!

I'm telling you this works........we have guy's in our club that are well over 300lbs and they get in and out w/ ease....

It's crazy to cut up a perfectly good body for this! Mike's Military does this alteration all the time!

DO THE RIGHT THING AND ALTER THE SEAT AND NOT THE JEEP!!

................................................................Matt ...............................

[SeaBee]

Does anyone have a picture of this seat modifaction? i hate to cut the body. since it is rust free and dent free. Thank you for your input. seabee mike

[MPMB45]

Mike,

I might be able to get a few pic for you, but it won't be until Sunday or so depending on the wheather.........I will see what I can do - then I will post them here for you to see!

..............................................................Matt .................................

[SeaBee]

I thank you from the botton of my

[JAB]

I'm sure it isn't the answer you want but based on wartime pictures I can assure you it's "correct" Remove the back cushion. Depending on which brand of replacement cushions you have (aren't they all replacement cushions by now?) that would give you an inch or more room. Actually, before you modify the seat by replacing the back tube with flatstock you could try this just to see how it would fit as the additional room would be about the same.

[MPMB45]

Finally I was able to get a few picture's of the MODIFIED SEAT. There is a 15.5" between the bottom of the wheel to the middle of the seat backing. So you can see that YOU "DO NOT" HAVE TO MODIFY THE JEEP WHEEL WELL---THAT'S CRAZY IF YOU DO!!! DON'T WASTE THE TIME AND MONEY AND MOST OF ALL, SCCREWING UP THE JEEP!




Now, you can see at the bottom....Lou the owner of the jeep fit's pretty well behind the wheel...and he weighs in at about 300lbs + ... JUST FOLLOW THE TOP INSTRUCTIONS AND YOU WILL BE FINE.

This was the biggest That I could go picture wise.......save to your photo deluxeand blow up if needing a bigger pic!

.............................................................Matt ...................................

[John]

I read of a modification where the guy cut the steering column, installed a universal joint in the column, and then re-welded the column with the steering wheel ahead of where it would normally sit. Kind of like tilt-steering in the forward position.

John

[jeep guy]

Hi

I wouldn't mess with the steering column to dangerous.
Yesterday I saw on ebay a jeep that had a conversion at the tub on the drivers side.
They advertise it like a MB but it has a cj body grill and engine so not much of the MB will be MB

auction nr: 2456566693
This might help

Christophe

[John]

I did some digging and found the article on the "Offset Jeep Steering Wheel". It was in Army Motors Number 97 on page 58. A guy named Dick Richards did the conversion to the steering column.

If you don't have a copy of that Army Motors, I can photocopy and mail it to you. Just send me your name and address.

John Dallimore

[Guest]

For anybody thinking about doing the column modification:

Changing the steering column is not going to do anything for a guy that is 6'2" or taller.......the pic's that I put up of the seat being modified will help with guy's that are tall and heavy both at the same time! Give's you about 5" and more if done right!

It's only a Seat and if you are worried about it because it's a original seat then go buy a repo for $90.00 + and save the original for later. The steering column modification is about a 2 day if not more task - that's if you can do it by yourself !!! The column mod will only work (maybe) if you don't have a gun rack as that's the space you need to gain, But for me I would not waste my time screwing up the jeep column in that manner.....too many other options out there to be performed.

The seat method that I put up is the EASIEST,FASTEST,CHEAPIST ROUTE TO GO.......

......................................................Matt ........................................